5 reasons why UK needs apathy like an elephant needs a power station

Who needs apathy?

All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye. Alexander Pope

How do ignorance and apathy help us tackle problems and dilemmas which make us terrified and furious?

Of course, we know that fear, tragedy and anger sell papers whilst enraging people and justifying factions. Some of our politicians and commentators fan the flames with their polarising: let’s-throw-untrue-and-emotional-hand-grenades attitude?

Leadership

How discredited the economic debate is in the House of Commons at the moment. It’s actually of a very low grade and we should be ashamed of our politicians for making these sorts of comparisons … Ann Pettifor, economist, reflecting on Prime Ministers Question Time. BBC Radio 4: PM news, 5 July 2017

On the grand stage, at the moment, it’s hard to avoid the incompetence, arrogance and stubborn instability of many political leaders. We see them for what they are with stunning clarity in the face of national tragedy and international negotiations.

No money … (DUP aside)

The money’s gone, they say. We need more austerity. What don’t we need to spend? For example, the HS2 budget doubled in under 4 months. Up from £24bn quoted by ministers on 27 December 2016 to £48.7bn (excluding rolling stock) on 3 April 2017.

How about sorting broken aspects of our infrastructure. How much of the other £40bn can we save? Where might we spend it – public sector pay? Nor should we forget fraud and error.

Oh God if you’d the gift tae gi’e us … who needs apathy?

When we get closer to a tragedy, we see ourselves for what we are … people who care, who love one another. Poor, rich, disabled, elderly, official, unofficial, it’s all there: concern, empathy, generosity and a willingness to go the extra mile. And all backed by wonderful, if often extended emergency services.

Failure at large

Where are the weaknesses? Where the incendiary stimulus fuelling a bonfire of the UK? Who is responsible?

Our leaders, lost in their tribal conflicts?

We read about corruption, incompetence and dishonesty. And, we all face huge challenges at the moment:

Brexit splits our government. The lies and dishonesty presented as truth by different factions persuade angry citizens to vote for a suicide pact, some gift for the next generations.

Grenfell provides stark clarity about serial political ineffectiveness in setting and monitoring standards to protect our citizens from harm. Stark proof of how ideology serves no one.

Terror attacks punctuate our lives with raging, cruel, ideological terrorists who found their voice in the vacuum of ill-conceived wars, some of our making.

Citizen reality

In stark contrast to the Establishment lunacy and the fog of invective and mendacity, please pause and think for a moment. What did ordinary folk do when terrorists struck?

Some stood and faced the evil. Some died doing it.

Many, hands covered in blood, supported the victims and cared for them.

All put in huge efforts and stood strong. They know what matters.

The Grenfell fire again showed the willingness of people to risk their lives, give love and support, demand answers and stand up to the Establishment.

The Strong Voice of Honesty and Decency

He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help. Abraham Lincoln

Once found, can a strong caring honest voice ever be silenced?We can clarify and face the facts in front of us — even if they challenge our angry feelings?

In future, can we avoid the ideological, dishonest, emotional and destructive modes of thought that permit the calamities we face?

Change or no change?

I think we can. Some of my thinking needs to change. We need true information, compassion and conciliation. Are we willing to look at the stone of the UK’s failings and fix what’s broken?

Can we, any longer, have our country’s agenda decided in a few short months by people who are weak, unstable, dishonest and incompetent? I don’t care what a person’s politics are, what your politics are. Let’s face up to reality together and make sure that what needs to be done will be delivered, audited and honestly reported by competent people.

We face big decisions that prejudice and factoids can’t solve. Are we strong enough to direct our leaders? Who needs apathy?